Eco-friendly walking for exercise

(Jack Moreh/FreeRangeStock.com)

Years ago, my husband and I belonged to a gym. It was a great gym. It had a pool and an indoor walking track, my favorite features. I've always loved swimming, and I like the idea of being able to walk without getting outside in the miserable heat this time of year is known for. But the best part was that it was on our way to and from work. We didn't have to go far out of our way to go there.

I miss that gym, but it cost more than we can afford, especially now that we're parents.

I've thought about moving to a cheaper gym, but I don't. The cheaper ones take longer to drive to, and in the few months I've been actively trying to minimize my carbon footprint, I've become more reluctant to drive more than necessary, especially to have to commit to doing it several days a week.

I could walk outside at the gym or in my neighborhood, but it's darn hot out there, especially this time of year.

So these days, I walk in my house, my teeny, tiny 1100-square-foot home, just back and forth across the living room. Yes, it can be as mind-numbingly boring as it sounds. Some days, I can take my mind off of the task by finding something interesting on TV to watch as I cross the living room, other days, I plug into Pandora. But I grow tired of both by the time I reach my step goal.

My short-term plan is just to tough it out through the summer, then start walking outside or maybe move on to tougher exercises by then.